Defect finder and stop for circular knitting machines



Oct. 21, 1941. A. F. BERTHOLD 2,259,607

DEFECT FINDER AND STOP FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May '7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l a? I 26 a J 29 7 a: Inventor A? 1% i it;

at? a j/Jer JE'fi'I' 02?" 46' I! A tto rn e Oct. 21, 1941. A. F. B ERTHOLD 7 DEFECT FINDER AND STOP FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 7,1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J2 14 n n/ 24 lg Inventor VIA 3 J5 Attorney Oct. 21, 1941. A. F. BERTHOLD 2,259,607

DEFECT FINDER AND STOP FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May '7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor A Marne Oct. 21, 1941. I A. F. BERTHOLD 2,259,607

DEFECT FINDER AND STOP FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor zkzfzkrikaja M A no rn ey Oct. 21, 1941. A. F. BERTHOLD 2,259,607

DEFECT FINDER AND STOP FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed May '7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l J, a!

. 47 616 i I I l I 6-? I a; 'J I I6 I 2 E 7/ 1 Inventor Jlvriffieriiz 07? M A ttorney Patented on. 21, 1941 nnrnc'r moan AND s'ror ron cmonun KNITTING mcnmns Albert F. Berthold, Pottltown, Pa, assignor of w per cent to Carson C. Potter, lottstown,

Application May '1, 1941, Seth] No. 392,362

4 Claims. (01. 66-166) my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general schematic view showing a conventional form of circular knitting machine with a rotary spindle and showing the invention incorporated therein.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the embodiment showing the same in set position in full lines and in tripped position in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the feeler carriage showing the knock-oil bar in set position.

. Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken alongside of the feeler carriage and through the adjustable arm, showing the knock-off bar in set position.

Figure 6 is a somewhat enlarged view similar to Figure 5 but showing the knock-elf bar in tripped position.

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the left hand portion of Figure 5 and showing in left hand end elevation the feeler carriage and knock-oi! bar.

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 5 along the line H and looking toward the left in the direction of the arrows.

I i'eelers.

Figure 10 is a top perspective view or the knock-off bar.

Figure 11 is a group perspective view of the components of the adjustable bar.

Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 5 along the line |2-I2.

taken through Figure 2 along the line Iii-l3- and looking toward the left in the direction of the arrows, showing the tripped position.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13.but showing the set position.

Figure 15 is a horizontal sectional view taken through Figure 14 along the line l5--I5 and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows. Figure 16 is a perspective view of the plunger.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates a conventional form or circular knitting machine having a stationary head land a rotating spindle .I, with the knitted goods 8 depending in tapering cylindrical form from below the head 6 in concentric relation to the spindle 1. In accordance with the present invention a stud 9 is threaded into the lower end of the spindle 1, the stud rising from a spacing boss II to the bottom of which is mounted the horizontal cross arm H to the outer ends of which is iixed the ring I! concentric with the axis of thevspindle I. A set bolt or stud I3 traverses a diametrically elongated slot it in the generally-rectangular plate I5 forming the base of the feeler carriage with a substantial portion of the said base projecting beyond one side of the cross arm H as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Mounted slidably in apertured lugs Ii, l1, and I8, depending from the bottom of the ofiset side of the plate is is the squared shank I! o! the knock-oi! bar which is generally designated 20 and which includes the bill or hook-shaped arm 21 which points in the direction of rotation of the ring II. The shank I! has a reduced portion 22 working through the lug It, with an expanding spring 23 and a shoulder at the end of the reduced portion as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, whereby the knock-01f bar is proiected in a radially outward direction into the dotted line position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings when the tongue 24 of the feeler cerrlage is withdrawn from the notch 25 cut on the side of the shank I9. Stop pins on the shank ll -01 the knock-oil. bar are located on opposite sides of the 1118 I.

The feeler carriage tongue 24 depends from one end of a U-shaped frame 28 and depends through the hole 29 formed in the base plate i5, the bight-portion of the frame 28 being pivotally mounted by a shoulder bolt 3! on a raised block 3| on the top of the base plate l5 adjacent the outer end of the oflset portion of the said base. the opening 29 in the base being sumciently Figure 13 is a transverse vertical sectional view' laterally elongated to allow suidcient pivoting of the frame 28 on the bolt II to engage and disngage the tongue from the notch ll in the shank of the knock-oil bar. A spring bar lying along the top of the base plate II has the portion 34 engaged with one side of the'bight portionoi' theframe llasillustratedinFigures3 and 6, with the opposite end of the spring engaged with an anchor 33 so that the tendency of the frame 28 is to beswung in a left hand direction asseeninllgure 3orturn in acounterclockwise direction on its pivot II.

Slidably mounted one above the other in slots in the vertical arms of the U-shaped frame 28 are the feelers 35 which have reduced fingers it at their radially outward ends and laterally turned lugs 31 on' their opposite ends, the latter being for retaining engagement with individual leaf springs 3i mounted in vertical and horizontal alignment with the individual feelers on a post 39 secured as indicated by the numeral II to the extreme oifset edge of the base plate IS. The leaf springs have hooks II at their ends for engagement in the notches 42 of the feelers 35 so that the feeler springs 43 circumposed on the feelers between the inner vertical arm of the frame 28 and the stops 4 on the feelers can project the feelers to their operative podtions as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings only after the frame 28 has been pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction so as to release the hooks on the springs from the notches in the inner ends of the feelers.

A C-shaped jaw 45 has a clamping bolt I in its lower' arm to engage the bottom of the table in opposition to the upper arm to clamp the jaw on the table with its depending body 41 mainly below the table and comprising a reduced shaft 48 which passes downwardly through the cylindrical portion 49 of the trip base ill which projects in the substantially tangential position illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The cylindrical portion is has a set screw II penetrating it for engagement with the shank or shaft II to lock the trip base in the desired adjusted position.

The elongated flat adjustable arm 52 comprises the plain bar 53 pivoted to the underside of the trip base 54 and extending therefrom in a generally radially inward direction as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. slidably mounted on the bottom of the plain bar 53 is the slotted bar 55 which has an upright 51 at its radially inward end, bolts 56 traversing the slots to clamp the bar 55 in adjustable extension of the bar 53. Other bolts traverse the slot in the upright I! and holes in the curved finger i! to enable vertically adjusting the finger I! into the plane of swing or rotation of the knock-off bar. The helical contact arm spring BI is stretched between a radially inward point on the adjustable bar and a point on the trip bar plate illustrated in Figure 2 normally hold the adjustable bar in engagement with the outer side of the knitted material I in a proper position to be engaged, through the material by the knock-on. bar.

The spring I ordinarily holds the radially outward end of the adjustable bar in the groove I of the plunger which is generally designated '2 and which is vertically slidably mounted in an opening in the trip base II as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, with the large shoulder 63 positioned above the base ll as shown in Figure 14, in the set position. A head 65 on the upper end of the plunger rests on the top of bifurcations 8| on the ends of the lifting lever. i which is pivoted as indicated by the numeral 81 in a slot ll in the top of the standard I! which has a stud ll passing through the trip base El and secured by a nut II. A contractile spring I! is stretched between the said end of the lever 68 on the base it to normally depress the lever 68.

A relatively heavy helical expanding spring I! is circumposed on the lower part of the plunger between the boss 14 on the bottom of the base SI and a stop washer 75 which is held in place by a pin IS, the lower end of the plunger resting on the stop lever 11 already existent on the knitting machine and which must be depressed by the action of the plunger 62 to stop the knitting machine. The outer end of the adjustable bar 52 works in a slot 18 formed in the bus so as to drop into the peripheral notch ii in the plunger when the plunger moves to the elevated set position shown in Figure 14.

When the adjustable bar 52 is withdrawn from the peripheral notch 6| in the plunger the spring it expands and depresses the stop lever 11 and halts the operation of the knitting machine. To reset the plunger 62 it is necessary only to depress the free end of the lever 66 until the plunger reaches the position shown in Figure 14.

It will be understood that the ring I! with the feeler mechanism revolves inside the cloth 8 on the spindle I to which it is attached. The feelers are pressed against the inside of the cloth by the feeler springs 43 so that when a hole or defect in the cloth appears the point of the feeler is forced through the hole or defect, thereby pulling the carriage feeler tongue 24 out of the notch 25 in the shank of the knock-oil bar, thereby allowing the spring 23 to force the knock-01f bar in a radially outward direction against the inside of the cloth so as to push against the adjustable arm 52, disengage the latter from the retaining relation to the plunger 82 and thereby produce operation of the stop lever ll of the knitting machine.

The feeler frame or carriage 28 is reset by pressing backthe knock-0E bar. The feeler carriage release springs 43 come into action when the feeler carriage 28 is in the tripped position, engaging 5 themselves in the notches in the feelers 35 and pulling the feelers back andreleasing them when the tongue 21 is forced into the knock-oi! bar notch 25 by the feeler carriage spring.

The trip base is reset by depressing the lifting lever 68 as already explained.

Although I have shown and described herein the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limit the application of the invention thereto, except as may be required by the scope of the subloined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A defect finder and stopping device for operating the stop lever of a circular knitting machine of the type having a stationary ring and a rotary spindle depending therebelow, with the knitted tube depending from said stationary ring concentrically around said spindle, a cross bar fixed at its middle to turn with said spindle, a knitted tube engaging ring fixed to the other ends of said cross bar to engage the inner side of the knitted tube, a feeler assembly on said cross bar comprising a pivoted spring positioned carriage having outwardly spring pressed feelers e g ing the inner side of the knitted tube and arranged to project outwardly through any defeet in the tube folmd, an outwardly spring pressed knock-oil bar on said crossbar, latch means normally retaining said knock-off bar in retracted position, means operatively connecting said latch means and said carriage whereby the catching of a feeler in the defect pivots said carriage and releases said knock-off bar to'project radially outwardly from said knitted tube engaging ring, and trip means mounted on said stationary ring of the knitting machine, said trip means comprising a spring pressed element operatively engaged with the stop lever of the machine, and a swingable element to be operatively engaged by said knock-off bar through the knitted tube for stopping the machine.

2. A defect finder and stopping device for operating the stop lever of a circular knitting machine of the type having a stationary ring and a rotary spindle depending therebelow, with the knitted tube depending from said stationary ring concentrically around said spindle, a cross bar fixed at its middle to turn with said spindle, a knitted tube engaging ring fixed to the other ends of said cross bar to engage the inner side of the knitted tube, a feeler assembly on said cross bar comprising a pivoted spring positioned carriage having outwardly spring pressed i'eelers engaging the inner side of the knitted tube and arranged to project outwardly through any defect in the tube found, an outwardly springpressed knock-off bar on said cross bar, latch means normally retaining said knock-oil? bar in retracted position, means operatively connecting said latch means and said carriage whereby the catching of a ieeler in the defect pivots said carriage and releases said knock-off bar to project radially outwardly from said knitted tube engaging ring, and trip means mounted on said stationary ring of the knitting machine, said trip means comprising a spring-pressed element operatively engaged with the stop lever of the machine, and a swingable element to be operatively engaged by said knock-off bar through the knitted tube for stopping the machine, said trip means further comprising a clamp securably engaging said stationary ring, a trip base projecting horizontally from a portion of said clamp, said spring pressed element comprising a vertical plunger having its lower end engaged with said stop lever, and said swingable element comprising a bar pivoted horizontally on said trip base and normally engaging in a notch formed in said plunger to hold the plunger in elevated position.

3. The combination recited byfclaim 1 wherein said. feelers comprise vertical spaced fingers mounted on said carriage for horizontal movement, springs operating between the feelers and the carriage to press the feelers yieldably in a radially outward direction.

4. The combination recited by claim 1 wherein said feelers comprise vertical spaced fingers mounted on said carriage for horizontal movement, springs operating between the feelers and the carriage to press the feelers yieldablyiin a radially outward direction, retainers on said assembly having detents engaging in notches in the feelers in the retracted positions of the feelers and only while said carriage is in an unpivoted initial position. i

. ALBERT F. BER'I'HOLD. 

